Huntingburg one of nine Indiana cities to receive new grant

The City of Huntingburg, the Huntingburg Foundation and the Huntingburg Event Center have been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Tourism.

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman announced this week that Huntingburg was one of nine communities chosen as recipients of a Place Based Investment Fund grant. The state is investing $400,000 to fund “quality of place” initiatives across Indiana and the grants will be used to improve the living and tourism experience in chosen communities.

The grant will be used to plan and develop landscaping for the Dubois County Veterans Monument and the Huntingburg Event Center’s gazebo area. Each entity has designated funds to match the amount received in the grant.

$11,000 has been earmarked by the Event Center Board. “The HECC Board of Directors is extremely pleased to accept this grant that will allow us to further add to landscaping and beautification of the Event Center and Veterans Monument,” said Board Chairman Joe Mundy.

The Huntingburg Foundation will provide a grant of $9000 to the project. “The is a terrific opportunity to leverage a local investment with state dollars to integrate the Event Center grounds, said Foundation Executive Director Brad Ward. “When completed, it will capture the aesthetic natural beauty of the Veterans Monument, lake and the gazebo as one.”

The City of Huntingburg will provide $5000 in matching funds from the account established for maintenance of the Veterans Monument. The account is funded through previous grants and the sale of bricks recognizing local veterans at the Monument Plaza.

“We are pleased to partner with the State of Indiana, the Huntingburg Foundation and the Event Center to continue to enhance the Veterans Monument,” Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner said in a press release, “and see this as a continuance of the Monument’s purpose to properly recognize veterans from all of Dubois County.”

“Indiana is filled with vibrant communities that offer Hoosiers and visitors unique experiences,” Skillman said. “These projects will make Indiana even more attractive to Hoosiers, visitors and those looking to invest in our state.”

The new fund is a joint effort between the Indiana Office of Tourism Development and the Office of Community and Ruarl Affairs. Convention and visitor bureaus, local and regional economic development agencies, units of local government and community foundations were eligible to apply for a Place Based Investment Fund grant.